‘I’m just a pastor': Good Samaritan who helped catch man facing voyeurism charge

While an Edmonton man is facing charges, for allegedly recording video of a woman in a public washroom Tuesday – CTV News has heard from one of two men credited with helping to stop the suspect.

On Tuesday around noon, a CTV News crew was at the University of Alberta hospital covering an unrelated story – when during an interview, a woman’s scream can be heard in the background, followed by the same woman crying out for help to stop a man who could be seen running away.

It’s in those moments that Spruce Grove Pastor Michael MacIntyre and a complete stranger sprang into action.

“I heard her holler, and I stuck my head out, started going out, saw this other fellow barreling out of the ladies room and she said ‘Run after him’,” MacIntyre said.

MacIntyre was in the men’s washroom when he heard the call for help.

“[I] caught up with him just outside the gate, and the other fellow had kind of already gotten hands on him, and was holding him,” MacIntyre said.

MacIntyre and the other unidentified man held the man until police arrived moments later.

Scott Raymond Gagne, 28, was arrested on the spot – on Wednesday, he was charged with voyeurism and failing to comply with a probation order.

Police said before he was chased out of the hospital, Gagne was allegedly recording video of a woman, who thought she was alone in the public washroom, from another stall.

“Allegedly, the accused was on the floor in the next stall, filming up at her,” EPS spokesperson Scott Pattison said.

MacIntyre walked away with only minor injuries – bruised knees – but he said if he encounters another incident such as that one, he wouldn’t hesitate to intervene again.

After the dust settled, MacIntyre said he checked on the woman who allegedly caught the accused in the act.

“I just checked in with her afterwards to see how she was doing, and she said she was alright,” MacIntyre said.

Police are crediting the quick-thinking of the two men who stopped the suspect’s escape – but it’s an action MacIntyre believes is not necessarily heroic.

“I’m just a pastor,” MacIntyre said. “I think I did what anybody would do, I just had a sense of something needs to be done, and I was there to do it.”

Gagne is still in custody, and has been scheduled to appear in court again Thursday.

With files from Brenna Rose

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Photos

Good Samaritans Michael McIntyre and an unidentified man hold voyeurism suspect Scott Gagne, 28, who had allegedly been recording video of a woman in a public washroom at the U of A Hospital Tuesday, Jan. 29.